Education News – Kristin Decarr
“New research published in the Archives of Disease in Childhood suggests that most two-year-olds are capable of using touch screens and can swipe, unlock, and actively search for features on smartphones and tablets…Findings for the study were based on a questionnaire pertaining to touchscreen access and use that was completed by 82 parents of children between the ages of 12 months and 3 years…Of the parents who owned a touchscreen device, 91% said their child knew how to swipe, 50% said their child could unlock the screen, and 64% said their child could actively search for apps or pictures on their devices…Recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics put out in 1999 concerning screen time for children age two and younger say that such activities should be discouraged, arguing that they put children at risk of being exposed to unsuitable material while also taking away from important developmental interactions and play time, reports Peter Russell for WebMD. However, these recommendations came before touchscreen technology, which experts suggest could have a different impact on children’s brain development.”(more)